mary dwan

I'm an independent archivist with over 10 years experience managing artwork and material history collections; I offer a range of services to improve long-term care and access to cultural resources. I'm also available for research, rights management and procurement projects for media productions.


I hold a Master's degree in Library and Information Science from University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, and certificates in Special Collections, Care and Identification of Photographs, Rights and Reproductions. Member, Society American Archivists.



1952 ektachrome slide, family collection

Projects for family collections




  • - Collections care with stabilization, rehousing, improving storage environment, pest mitigation, and systems training
  • - Photography and digitization
  • - Collections access design
  • - Liaison services and preparation of archival materials for institutional acquisition






[Unknown c. 1910s], City of Manhattan Beach

History Associates Inc


Archivist, 2023

Inventory and collections care services for cultural history collections

- Collections research, maintenance and recommendations for storage and exhibition

  • - Processing, rehousing and stabilization
  • - Description and access development






Abalone can label, c. 1930; collection of California State Parks, Monterey District

California State Parks, Monterey District


Archivist

2019-2020

Discovery & description services for manuscript collection related to history of Point Lobos State Reserve.

  • - Processing, rehousing and stabilization
  • - Description and access development
  • - Digitization






The Point Lobos Foundation


Archivist

2018-2019

Provided broad range of services to improve access and management of museum/archival collections hosted by PLF and partner organizations  


  • - Collections inventory and photography at the Whaler’s Cabin Museum at Point Lobos State Reserve.
  • - Conservation, maintenance, and collections policy development for Museum management.
  • - Collections Management database design and implementation
  • - Collections policy development
  • - Special Collections development, processing, digitization, and access

Designer Sherl Nero with textile pattern created at Design Works of Bedford Stuyvesant, c. 1975 [Collections available via The New School Special Collections, KA-0145-01]

Sherl Nero Manuscript Project


Processing Archivist

2018

Prepared artist manuscript collection of textile designer Sherl Nero for acquisition by The New School Special Collections

  • - Rehousing, stabilization, and packing for shipment
  • - Basic description and processing for accession
  • - Family liaison and sample digitization

(Untitled): fiber artist Deborah Berger at work, Courtesy of the American Visionary Art Museum, Research Library, Artist Manuscript Collections (2009).

The American Visionary Art Museum


Registrar and Collections Manager


2013-2017

  • - Special Collections processing, digitization, description and database management
  • - Library and research services
  • - Fine art collections management
  • - Exhibition, storage and transportation services
  • - Collections care and maintenance

Courtesy of The Jewish Museum of Maryland, Photographic Archives (2009.026.099)

The Jewish Museum of Maryland


Research + Archival Services


2011

  • - Archival projects involved research, photography, digitization, and metadata input for museum

artifacts.

  • - Editing essays for publication, selecting and preparing images for museum publications, negotiating copyright, research.


Robert Breck Chapman Collection, University of Baltimore Langsdale Library Special Collections

University of Baltimore

Langsdale Library Special Collections


Archival Projects

2011-2013

Collections processing, research, oral history, digitization, digital initiative curation